Hello lovelies, I'm back!

Firstly, I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has liked, favorited, and reviewed this story. One of my favorite things about writing fanfiction is getting to interact with readers, so thank you especially for the reviews you have left. A special thank you to annevic, Aleta Wolff, Manon, xxvampirebitexx, Yasmin, Lestatsgirl15, DeathlyIceMaiden, Fair Tail Master23, FairyMaster23, sndlr, and Kathenia for leaving updates. Your support is paramount to me continuing this story. I cannot say it enough...thank you, thank you, thank you.

In way of updates, I'm trying to establish a publishing schedule, but I have to keep it realistic. So, in order to juggle my other responsibilities along with working on this story, I will be posting at least once a quarter. I am hoping I can manage more, but I don't want to over promise and under deliver.

But, speaking of writing updates, I've created a Tumblr page wicked-game-black-butler where I post writing updates, content related to Wicked Game, and general Black Butler and writing content. If you'd like to stay in the loop between my updates on here, follow me on there.

Also, there are some notes at the end to explain some of the content in this chapter.

Now, without further ado, I give you chapter 23. Please leave a review if you would like. Enjoy!

June 1888

Sarah's POV

"Alright, let's try once more, just to be sure." Angelina prompted, taking my hand as I let out a quiet huff of frustration.

"I'm sorry, Sarah," she continued as she nudged me, spinning me away before pulling me back to her, "but I want to be absolutely sure that your wig will stay in place."

"I know," I sighed as I wobbled a bit before moving to sit in front of the vanity, "It just feels as though I've been spinning all afternoon. My head's swimming."

Angelina followed close behind, placing her hand underneath her chin, her brows furrowing as she assessed the state of the golden blonde wig which had, despite her anxiety, not budged since it had been secured over a half an hour ago. I willed her to finally be content with my appearance as I watched her reflection in the mirror. From my seven months of service at the Phantomhive estate, I had become so accustomed to the simplicity of the upkeep of my appearance that I had forgotten how much effort it took to prepare for such events. Three hours ago, I had been whisked away from the final discussions Ciel, Sebastian, and I were having about the plan for this evening's mission to Angelina's chambers where both she and Anna, her lady's maid, set to the grueling task of preparing me for Lord Willoughby's masquerade ball. During that time I would be washed, perfumed, styled, painted, and powdered until I was in a fit appearance for the name I would bear tonight, Lady Emma Renfield.

A fortnight ago the Double Charles' had made another surprise visit to the Phantomhive manor to deliver a mission request from Her Majesty. Not for her Guard Dog, but rather for me. It had come to the Queen's attention that there had been a significant increase of human trafficking, particularly in trade to the East. She had been willing to monitor the situation closely until she received word that a daughter of one of the nobility, Lady Diana Evans, had been abducted about five months prior, her body found in a brothel in India three weeks ago, just a week before the Queen decided to contact me. She had previously hoped the situation could have been investigated and any discoveries made used to negotiate with the traffickers for further information. However, with the effects of the trade beginning to infiltrate the nobility, she could no longer take such a diplomatic approach. Her instructions were simple. Find the ones responsible and eliminate them.

My investigation of the events was not as quick as I would have liked, given I was restricted by my duties as a housekeeper and the understandable unwillingness of both Ciel and Sebastian to my venturing about London on my own, given the whereabouts of Father and his followers were still unknown. My expression soured to a frown at the thought. For all of the digging the three of us had done in the past three months, there was nothing to show for it and not for a lack of trying. There had been leads in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, even Scotland and Ireland, but every time we went to investigate, the location we had discovered would be abandoned, no evidence there had ever been activity that had occurred there, at least not recently. And after a few of our international contacts mysteriously disappeared or were found murdered, any help from sources in other countries, whether favors were owed or not, dried up as well.

Fortunately the trail of evidence for Her Majesty's case had not grown so cold. Only a week after commencing the investigation, I discovered that Lady Evans was not the only noble woman to have been abducted in the past six months. There were two others, Lady Stewart and Lady Gibson, and though their bodies had not been found yet, all three had a connection to a certain man-Baron Jacob Willoughby. It took little more digging to discover that some of the lower class women who had disappeared had worked as servants at the Baron's estate in the past two years as well. Even though such a connection did not prove he was directly responsible for the women's abductions, it was strong enough to warrant further scrutiny. Lord Willoughby was a tradesman, whose rise to fortune came through the illegal goods he was willing to transport for the Underworld. Weapons and drugs were his transport of choice, but it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that trafficking humans wasn't above his honor.

It was quite a stroke of good luck when we received word that the baron was hosting a masquerade ball the night of June 9 in celebration of his wife's, Baroness Mary Willoughby's, birthday. Since word had spread that the event would not be suitable for children, it had been decided that Ciel would not be in attendance. Rather, he would remain behind at Angelina's residence, while Sebastian and I went in disguise in hopes we would be able to come across some useful evidence to further the investigation.

Tonight we were to be Lord Jonathan Elliott and Lady Emma Renfield, friends of Viscount Druitt, as he would be the most likely to invite others who had not received an invitation from the Baron, and lovers. The latter part had been Sebastian's suggestion and he seemed rather pleased when I had agreed to those terms of our aliases. I had tried to dampen his enthusiasm when I explained that I had agreed to it simply because it was an advantageous detail as it would explain why we would arrive together and, later on, sneak from the party together in order to investigate other areas of the mansion. Though, if anything could be ascertained by the subtle smirk on his lips or the fluttering of my heart as I offered the rationalization, neither of us fully believed my words.

"What do you think, Matthews?" Angelina's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

The soft spoken maid took a couple of tentative steps towards us, her hands clasped before her as she replied, "I believe the wig is secure, my lady."

At this, Angelina hummed, and I knew by the look on her face that she still wasn't satisfied-an assumption that was confirmed a moment later when she picked up another pin and slipped it in the back.

"There," she smiled, now satisfied, and placed her hands on her hips as she assessed her work, "that should do it."

I sighed, shaking my head as I looked, unamused, at her reflection, "You do realize that I will have to take all of these out later, right?"

"Oh, come off it," she huffed, waving a dismissive hand at me, "it won't be all that bad. Besides, you'll have me to thank when your wig doesn't budge tonight. I mean," she paused, placing her hands on my shoulders before giving me a playful wink, "who knows what you and Lord Elliott will get up to."

Her hearty laughter rang in my burning ears as I cast my gaze away from her, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ears that, thanks to the wig, wasn't there. A moment later she gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze, drawing my attention back to her before adding, "Poor Sarah, don't worry your pretty head. I only meant it in jest."

I raised a skeptical brow at her words, to which she shrugged in feigned innocence.

"Well, maybe a little in jest."

I opened my mouth, prepared to shoot off a reply when Anna cleared her throat from beside us.

"My lady," she began, our attention turning to the lady's maid, "forgive the interruption, but it is five til ten and Mr. Michaelis and Mrs. Wakefield* are due to leave at ten."

"Right you are, Matthews," Angelina nodded, before turning back to me, "Well, let's get you in your dress."

After a few minutes of planning, it was decided that since the three of us were close to the same height, that Angelina and Anna would have to somehow stand above me and lower the dress down. So that is how I ended between the two of them, gazing up at the gathered deep royal blue silk of the skirt as both women stood precariously on chairs, preparing to lower the weighty garment when a series of quick knocks came at the door.

"Sarah," Sebastian's muted voice called, "it is two past ten. Are you ready to depart? Hannes has pulled the carriage around."

"Just a mo-...," I began, but was cut off when Angelina shouted with a strained voice.

"Actually, we could use a hand."

At her word, the door opened and the butler gracefully swept into the room, closing the door silently behind him.

"Mr. Michaelis!" Anna cried, trying to lower the dress as best she could in an honorable, yet unsuccessful, effort to shield my sparsely covered body from his view.

My hands shot up, shooting a glare up to Angelina as I covered what I could of my breasts which were only partially covered by the corset, a fresh flush warming my cheeks. As he moved to join us at the far end of the grand room, the subtle smirk that teased his lips and the momentary flash of appreciation as his eyes roamed my frame was not lost to me, nor was the effect the appreciation had on me.

"My, my," he teased, coming to stand before me, "when I realized you were late, I didn't expect to find you in such a state of undress."

"S-sorry, Mr. Michaelis," Anna replied quietly, both her and Angelina's arms straining under the weight of the garment, "but the dress is too heavy for us to get it on her properly."

At her words, he folded his arms, bringing his left hand up to rest his chin on as his eyes assessed my appearance. His brows dipped in disapproval as his gaze focused on my corset-at what, I couldn't tell. He gave a hum that I knew meant he had found something that didn't suit his liking and came round the two women to stand behind me. Giving no heed to the huff of frustration I let out, he slid his fingers underneath the lacings at the back of the corset and gave a testing tug.

"Just as I suspected," he mumbled before beginning to untie the laces of my corset, "This is too loose."

"Mr. Michaelis!" Anna cried, her face flushing a deep crimson at the sight.

At this, I saw Sebastian's reflection in the vanity mirror turn towards the modest maid, a falsely innocent smile on his lips.

"Do not concern yourself over this. This is not the first time I've dressed Mrs. Wakefield."

She blanched at his explanation, her eyes darting between Sebastian and I as she tried to make sense of his words. To my right, Angelina chuckled at the whole display.

"I was injured," I quipped, shooting Sebastian's reflection a scathing look.

"Come now, arguing won't help to get you ready any faster," he chided, his smile dropping as he focused on lacing the corset back up, each tug chinching the restrictive garment closer to my chemise until he reached half way up.

"Now, if you ladies would be so kind as to hold on just a moment or two longer while I finish lacing Mrs. Wakefield up." he said, ignoring the desperate looks from both of the women who had no choice but to obey as he guided me over to the vanity.

"As for you," he added, his voice slightly lower as he gently pushed against my shoulders, signalling I was to bend over, "you're going to want to hold on."

Knowing all too well what was going to happen, I gripped the solid wood of the vanity with all my strength just in time for the first swift tug. I grunted, tightening my hold on the vanity, which shook from the force of his pulls as I tried to stay in place.

From behind us, I heard Anna give a quiet, "Oh my."

My back stiffened as he placed a staying hand on my lower back before tugging a second time, warmth beginning to stir within me at his touch. I snapped my gaze up at him in hopes that visually scolding him would distract me from the effects of his touch. I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead, my look of disapproval faltered almost immediately, my body heating as if it had been set ablaze at the sight. Sebastian stood close behind me, blocking the other two from view, where I stood, bent over in front of him, the reflection of the mirror offering a generous view of my breasts, which bounced despite their confines with every forceful tug he gave to my laces. Every movement was charged...intimate...sensual. His eyes flashed with the light from the candles as our gazes met, giving a final tug before tying the laces off.

"There."

I huffed, attempting in vain to calm my nerves as I stood aright, toying with the sides of the corset as I made my way back over to where Angelina and Anna remained, their arms hanging as they barely had hold of the dress.

"I have to be able to breathe, you know," I snapped, though my ire seemed to have no effect on the butler as he came to stand before me.

Instead, he flashed Angelina a smile as he raised his arms to take hold of the skirt, "Oh dear, has she been like this the whole time?"

"Not quite," Angelina answered with a chuckle.

"Well, that is comforting at least," he said, taking the weight of the dress as if it was as light as air, before stepping forward and lowering it over my head, "I was beginning to worry this would be setting the mood for the entirety of the night."

I took a deep breath and sighed inwardly as I raised my arms, closing my eyes as he carefully moved the garment over my body. There was no point in continuing this argument. He was enjoying this far too much.

Close to my right, I heard Angelina give a soft gasp.

"Oh my, Nina has outdone herself again."

I slowly opened my eyes, my eyes widening as my gaze came to rest on the curious reflection in the mirror, momentarily taken aback by what I saw. It was incredible what a change a wig, stylish dress, and a few cosmetics could do to alter one's appearance. My mind whirred in confusion as it tried to reconcile the vision in the mirror with what it would normally recognize as me. Gone was the housekeeper whose appearance and dress were both understated with her simplistic hair styling, naturally colored face, and basic black uniform whose only embellishments was the crisp lace about the collar and cuffs of the sleeves. In her place stood a blonde beauty with a fresh flush to her cheeks, her lips painted red, clothed in an elegant silk ballgown which had been dyed a vibrant royal blue and glimmered with the crystals that had been sewn on the skirt in the pattern of stars. The same crystals sparkled in her hair, which had been swept up into a high, loose bun. Lady Emma Renfield was a vision.

"You look beautiful, Mrs. Wakefield," Anna's small voice came from behind me as she finished buttoning up the back of the dress.

A soft smile lit my face, my heart warming at her words.

"Thank you, Anna."

"Now, I hate to rush us along, but it is eight past," Sebastian interjected, handing me my gloves and fan, "We really must be going."

I nodded and began to follow him to the door when Angelina called for my attention, slipping a silver lace choker and a pair of sapphire and crystal earrings into my hands.

"Can't go to a party without the proper final dressings," she smiled, giving my hands a reassuring squeeze, "Good luck," then added with a wink, "Have fun."

I chuckled, unable to repress the amused smile that spread my lips and shook my head, but offered no other response, choosing instead to make my leave and follow Sebastian out into the hall.

"And what sort of fun are we to be having this evening, Lady Renfield?" Sebastian teased as he easily caught up with me, amusement dancing in his russet orbs as we descended the stairs to the main floor.

I rolled my eyes as we continued the short walk from the stairway to the front door, glancing over to the butler, the clicking of our heels against the marble floor of the foyer echoing off the walls.

"If we are lucky, none, Lord Elliott," I answered as we descended the short flight of front stairs, crossing the path of the front lawn to where Hannes waited with the carriage, "In my experience, fun on missions like this often leads to unexpected complications."

"Perhaps," Sebastian sighed as he opened the carriage door and extended his hand towards me.

His gloved hand wrapped about mine as I gladly accepted the assistance to step into the carriage. This dress may have been beautifully crafted, but it was no less difficult to maneuver about in. I could only hope that we wouldn't find ourselves in any tight places tonight. Such a situation would prove to be tricky indeed.

"Though, I think should the opportunity arise for a little...amusement, we should take advantage," he continued as he sat across from me on the other richly padded, velvet lined bench, a teasing smirk playing on his lips as the carriage began to move, bouncing slightly down the brick laid drive, "We are to be lovers, after all."

My heart leapt in my chest at the thought, casting my gaze down momentarily in hopes he wouldn't be able to see the recognition in my eyes that, as much as I might object to those words aloud, inside I knew I would not mind such a shift in our relationship. So, instead of giving him that satisfaction, I busied myself with the earrings Angelina had lent me.

"You are enjoying this far too much," I huffed, though my tone wasn't as disapproving as I wanted, slipping one of the dangling earrings in before switching to the other ear as I turned my gaze to look out the carriage window to the street outside which glowed with soft, warm lantern light.

Sebastian's deep chuckle caused my heart to flutter within my chest once more as he simply replied, "Perhaps."

/

Twenty minutes later, the carriage came to a stop as we joined the long line of others that slowly crept up the drive to Baron Willoughby's mansion, waiting to deposit their noble passengers. For being so close to London, the baron's mansion sat on a decent plot of land, by city standards, at least-about three acres. The grand three story building sat near the back of the property, which had allowed the drive going towards and leaving the mansion to be lined with trees. This obscured the pearly white stone home from view of the street, which was the baroness' wish. She did not care for prying eyes.

The carriage window whined as Sebastian lowered it, popping his head through the opening to get a cursory glance at what was going on.

"We'll probably arrive at the door in about ten minutes or so, given how quickly the line is moving."

With that, he slid the window shut once more, clicking his tongue in disapproval as he sat back in his seat.

"So many carriages, and one more gratuitously decorated than the other. Honestly, I'll never understand why."

A sardonic laugh sounded from my lips at his words, "Nobles will never pass an opportunity to flaunt their wealth and status to others. Maybe it is to inflate their insecure pride, a twisted way to validate the worthiness of their existence." I paused, glancing out the window as the carriage briefly moved forward, before coming to a halt, "Or perhaps it is because they believe such opulence can be used as a substitute for the happiness they so desperately desire."

"You do not believe nobles are capable of achieving happiness?" Sebastian asked, returning my attention to him.

The corner of my mouth twitched with a cynical smile at his quirked brow and the curious glint in his eyes.

"I have met many a noble in my time and a great few were happy. One would think since they have no worries over the necessities of this world that they would be happier for it, but I have found it is often the opposite. It is the poor who scrape by day to day who hold the most joy in life. I know that has been true for me."

Sebastian's eyes widened at my words, stunned wordless for a moment. Unsure how to respond to his silence, I reached over and retrieved my mask from where it sat on the seat beside me. It was a smaller mask, simply made to cover the areas of the face near the eyes and secured to the head by ribbons, but it was no less grand in design. It was covered in silvery silk, to coordinate with the ornate silver embellishments of Sebastian's royal blue waistcoat, and studded with the same crystals that adorned my skirt.

"So," Sebastian began, drawing my attention back to him before falling silent once more, brow furrowed as he tried to find the words, "you mean to say you have been happy since you have come to the manor?"

I nodded, a soft smile lighting my face as I answered, "Yes...though my time at the Phantomhive estate has had its fair share of trouble, I cannot deny that I have been truly happy."

A smile that mirrored my own lit Sebastian's face, a warmth I had rarely seen before gleaming in his gaze.

"You do not know how pleased it makes me to hear you say such things."

Warm light filled the carriage as we began moving forward once more, rounding the bend in the drive. We were getting close. I rubbed the fabric of my skirt between my fingers and bit my lower lip at the thought. How I wish Sebastian would've allowed me to carry my guns. It would've done wonders to ease my nerves, but he had adamantly opposed the idea, insisting there was no need for them. Maybe not, I thought as my leg began to bounce, but it still would have made me feel better.

"We're nearly there," Sebastian said as he looked out the window, confirming my thoughts.

I nodded, taking his lead as he lifted his own mask and worked to secure it. His mask was more theatrical in design than mine as it was more necessary for him to cover more of his face, since he did not have as many options as me for altering his appearance. It covered his face from the nose up, the base being fashioned from porcelain that had been painted a matte black. Silver flowers and crystals stylishly adorned the face of the mask, while an artistically painted series of swirls beginning at the temples traveled upwards to spiral around two spiral cut horns that came from the top and slightly curved to the back of his head. He had been pleased that Nina had been able to bring his idea to life, seemingly almost giddy with excitement when he had shown it to me. I thought the design rather odd, but Ciel disagreed, casting a look of disgust towards the butler, saying that wearing the mask of a devil was rather suiting.

I huffed as the ties of my mask slipped in my fingers once more, the silk of my gloves making it impossible to grip the ribbons properly.

"Allow me," Sebastian offered as he stood, careful to lean forward so as to not touch his horns on the roof of the carriage, adjusting my mask slightly before quietly adding, "If you would hold that in place."

I obeyed, resting a staying hand on my mask, doing my best to ignore the proximity at which he was standing to me as he reached behind me to tie off the ribbons- his chest was barely an inch from my face. Though I was inwardly grateful because as I took another deep breath in, the all too familiar scent of cinnamon and vanilla filled my lungs and any nervous tension melted away with it.

"There." he said, leaning back before hooking his finger underneath my chin, guiding it so I looked up at him.

I waited with bated breath as my eyes searched his, which glowed in the light of the fires that lit the area around the entrance to the mansion, my chest tightening from a very different kind of anticipation, but for what, I wasn't certain. His gaze traveled down my face, lingering on my lips. My hands clenched as his thumb brushed against my chin below my lower lip, gently rubbing over the delicate skin. His lips parted, his tongue wetting his bottom lip as it glided over the full, pink flesh. I wonder, I thought as I watched his every move with enraptured curiosity, what he would taste like. It was then that he leaned towards me once more and I found my body moving towards him in answer.

Suddenly, his gaze snapped up to mine before he spoke again, his voice low and smooth, "If I may be so bold, I must agree with Anna. You look beautiful tonight."

My heart lept within me, startling me from my daze and my cheeks flushed as I sat, utterly dumbfounded, unable to believe the words I had just heard. Surely I had been imagining things.

"Thank...you."

Sebastian smirked at my response, coming to sit across me once more as the carriage moved the final distance to the mansion's entrance.

"Though, if I am entirely honest, I think that about you all the time."

This cannot be real. My mind screamed. It is all just a fantasy...a rather vivid fantasy. I did not have any further time to think on it, however, as a moment later we came to a halt, the door quickly being opened by the waiting valet.

"Are you ready to begin our evening, my lady?" Sebastian asked, bowing slightly as he gestured toward the door.

I took a deep breath, pushing any emotions from what had happened but seconds ago from my mind, my thoughts and objective becoming clear once more. Nodding, I slipped the string of my fan around my wrist, flashing him a confident smile as I stood.

"I am, my lord."

/

"Good evening."

"Good evening," I replied, flashing a smile and nodding towards a passing noblewoman as she navigated around me to venture deeper into the crowd.

Good god, please kill me now. I inwardly groaned, my smile dropping as soon as the woman left my sight. I hope we actually find something useful tonight, my thoughts continued, otherwise this whole ordeal would have been for naught. With an abrupt flick of my wrist, I snapped my fan open and began to fan a cooling breeze towards my face as I cast my gaze over the crowded ballroom.

Rumor had it that Lord Willoughby had spared no expense with the construction of his city residence, not wanting to sacrifice any of the indulgences and luxuries of his main estate in the country. If I was to judge by the few rooms of the mansion I had already seen, the rumors, for once, would not have been far off the mark.

The ballroom jutted out from the back of the mansion, allowing the room to stand at a daunting two stories in height. Several pairs of doors lined the three outside walls, which allowed easy access to the surrounding gardens in the warmer months and served as windows when the weather became less agreeable. Given the warmer weather the past several days, all of the outside doors were open, allowing the subtle scent of roses and jasmine from the gardens to waft into the crowded room. About the doors were ornate, gold plated carvings which expanded up the wall to vein out over the ceiling where, in the gaps of the carvings, scenes from various Greek myths had been painted. The lanterns that lined the room shone upon the carvings, casting the entirety of the party in a rich, golden glow. All in all, the effect was stunning, giving the room an air of something almost ethereal.

My eyes continued to roam the crowd for any sign of Sebastian, chewing the inside of my cheek as with every passing second, my chest growing tighter in his absence. We had been separated an hour ago as he had been called over by a group of nobles to join their conversation. It took all my self control not to glower as the men insisted despite Sebastian's objections, saying that he couldn't possibly be forced to suffer the company of a woman all night.

It was then that a nearby group of women managed to pull me into their conversation for almost the whole hour, during which I was subjected to their petty grievances and gossip. It was a stark reminder that I, in fact, was not missing anything by no longer having a title.

The only distraction I had through the whole affair was when a few minutes later, Sebastian appeared in my line of sight, the group of men having moved to the other side of the room. Every so often, my gaze would drift over to him. Sometimes he would be talking. Sometimes he would be standing as if he was listening attentively, the surrounding lanterns bathing him in their golden light, casting an alluring glow over his frame. Yet other times when I would glance over, I would find that his attention had turned to me as well, his gaze capturing mine, a subtle smile tugging his lips as I would coyly smile before returning my attention back to the conversation at hand.

To my relief, I had finally been able to escape the conversation a few minutes ago when another woman, Lady Bremsby, I believe, and her daughter joined the group and provided a convenient diversion so I could slip back into the crowd. I would not be missed, really. I hadn't been able to provide much in the way of dialogue anyway.

Fresh peals of laughter echoed from further down the room, catching my attention and drawing my gaze towards the refreshment tables. My shoulders stiffened, my jaw tightening as I had indeed found Sebastian, who was surrounded by a group of six women, each one seeming more besotted with him than the last. He flashed them a brilliant smile, some of them giggling, others blushing and hiding their faces behind their fans at his gesture. My expression soured as he seemed to be beaming from all the attention. I couldn't wait for this to be over. He was enjoying this far too much.

The grip on my fan tightened as one of the women standing nearest to him, a lithe brunette, placed her hand on his arm and raised herself to whisper something in his ear, pressing as much of her body as she could against him in polite society without seeming overly forward. The swift rush of rage that flooded through my veins shocked me more than her actions did as I found there was nothing that would have brought me greater pleasure in that moment than snapping her neck. My eyes widened at the thought.

Though, as Sebastian leaned slightly over to allow her to better whisper in his ear, his gaze again found mine and I took this moment to swiftly close my fan*. A moment later, he nodded in acknowledgement-if it was to my message or what the other woman had said, I wasn't sure. Either way, he then righted himself, smiling apologetically to the women as he said something, before turning his attention to me once more. As he waved a hand in greeting, I could have sworn the temperature of the room dropped by a few degrees as the eyes of the six women were all on me. And, if looks could kill, I would most certainly be dead...six times over.

However, much to their disappointment, I did not back down from the heat of their wrath. A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth as I flicked my fan back open, holding it up to my face with my right hand* before locking my gaze with Sebastian's and giving a flirtatious wink. My face flushed, my heart fluttering in my chest as I saw something flash in his eyes...something that almost resembled hunger. Lowering my hand, an irrepressible, satisfied smile spread my lips as the women's scowls deepend. Their focus on me broke when Sebastian stepped between them as if they weren't there and started to make his way towards me. Once he began to move, I turned and made my way to the nearest doorway. Or as best I could, given that I had to navigate through the crowd with my cumbersome ball gown on. I sighed, speaking apologies to a man who I had just bumped with my skirt whilst I thought, not for the first time tonight, oh how I hate bustles.

A sigh of relief escaped my lips, the cooler night air soothing my heated skin as I stepped onto the veranda. There were fewer people out here since many who ventured from the ballroom went to explore the more private corners of the garden. My heels clicked as I ventured to the far end to stand by myself, resting my elbows on the cool stone banister before turning my attention to the view of the garden below. The dense growth of hedges and bushes were bathed in the cool light of the moon. A fountain bubbled to the left, where a couple sat huddled together, stealing discreet kisses when they could. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath, allowing the subtle floral scents to ease some of the tightness in my chest. It was good to be away from the party, away from prying eyes.

Without warning I gasped, jumping as I felt someone place a hand on the small of my back.

"Seb-Jonathan!" I hissed, whipping around to find an amused looking Sebastian.

"My, a bit jumpy are we?"

I huffed, shooting him a reproving look as I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm the rapid beating of my heart. How had he been able to sneak up on me? The sounds of the party weren't that distracting. Choosing not to give him any further satisfaction in having caught me off guard, I turned to face the banister once more.

When I gave no other reply, Sebastian chuckled softly before coming to stand by my side, joining me in leaning against the banister as he continued, "So I assume you had a reason for calling me out here."

He shifted to the side so his shoulder came to rest against mine. My back stiffened with anticipation at the contact of his sleeve against my bare arm, but did not move to correct it.

"Are you upset I called you away?" I teased as I kept my gaze resolutely forward, not daring to see how close he was to me, "You seemed rather pleased with your situation."

He gave another deep chuckle, bringing a fresh flush to my cheeks.

"Lady Renfield, do I detect a hint of jealousy? I thought you were above such things."

"On the contrary, Lord Elliott, I am not jealous," I lied, "I simply don't want you to lose focus on the matter at hand."

Sebastian hummed in response, remaining otherwise silent. A soft gasp escaped my lips at the unexpected contact of the cool leather of his glove as he touched the bare skin of my shoulder, his fingers trailing from where the off the shoulder cap sleeve of my gown began, to a sensitive spot in the crook of my neck. My grip on the banister tightened as a shiver ran down my spine, my mind quickly clouding over, becoming blind to all else but his touch.

"It should comfort you to know, my lady, that none of those women were tempting in the slightest," his deep, smooth voice spoke as his lips brushed against my ear, "I am completely focused on what I want."

My eyes closed, breath shuddering as warm waves of his breath wafted over my neck. Time seemed to slow, a familiar warmth between my legs beginning to awaken as his fingers traced over my bare shoulders, his nose brushing against my ear. The pads of my fingers ached from the earnestness with which I gripped the banister. Everything in my body cried out to touch him, feel him, taste him.

Without consciously thinking to do so, my body leaned into his and I turned to gaze up at him through my lashes, my voice barely a whisper as I asked, "And what is that?"

"Pardon me." a voice called from behind us.

My eyes widened, my back stiffening as I was soberingly wrenched back to reality. A footman stood nearby with a tray of champagne glasses. As I turned my attention to him he gave me a sheepish grin, seeming relieved to have somewhere to look other than Sebastian's murderous scowl.

"Would you care for a drink, my lady?"

"Thank you. I would." I answered, offering an apologetic smile and took two flutes of the bubbly wine.

At that, the footman scurried off to other guests who stood elsewhere on the large veranda, seemingly determined to get away from us, or more likely Sebastian, as quickly as possible.

The crystal glass clinked softly on the stone of the banister as I sat one by Sebastian, my nerves still raw as a tense silence settled between us in the footman's absence. The moments ticked by, the only sounds that filled the silence were the sounds of raucous conversation from the ballroom and the contrastingly soothing tinkling of the nearby fountain. A nervous knot coiled uncomfortably in my stomach as we persisted in silence and I rolled the stem of the glass between my gloved fingers as I tried to decide how to proceed. Giving a soft sigh, I cocked my head back, downing half of the champagne in one go, the coolness of the wine soothing throat and wetting my mouth where it had gone dry.

I cleared my throat, setting down my glass before I glanced over to Sebastian, ignoring the subtle questioning in the tilt of his head at my unladylike behavior as I asked, "So were you able to learn anything from your lady friends?"

"You might be surprised, but I did," he began, casting me a sideways glance as he clasped his arms behind his back, "Lady Gabrey informed me of a rather discreet way to slip away from the party."

"I'm sure she did," I mumbled, taking a more appropriate sip from my glass as I tried to ignore the subtle smirk that teased the corner of his lips.

"I believe it is a better plan than what we had originally mapped, considering it will give us access to the second floor without having to use the main hallway."

I hummed, nodding in acknowledgement before taking a final sip of champagne. My cheeks warmed as the alcohol began to work its way through my veins and I allowed my shoulders to relax as the tension from earlier slipped into the back of my mind. From within the ballroom, the disjointed sounds of the quartet warming the strings of their instruments sent a hush over the crowd. Brilliantly colored displays bustled about as they sought out their darker clad counterparts before the music could begin.

As the obstreperous conversation subsided, Sebastian glanced down at his pocket watch before closing it with a quiet snap. I glanced behind him to see several of the couples who had come outside for a bit of fresh air begin to venture their way back inside, disappearing into the sea of costumes and masks.

"We have approximately forty-three minutes before the special show for Baroness Willoughby begins," Sebastian said, slipping his watch back into his pocket, "and there is nothing more we can do for the investigation until then. So, my lady," he paused, a warm smile lighting his face as he gave a slight bow towards me, "may I have the pleasure of this dance?"

I could not repress the smile that spread across my lips at his question. Instead, I gracefully curtsied, bowing my head before coming to stand aright.

"Yes, sir. I believe you may."

For the next several minutes, the quick, energetic music of the quartet lilted through the air, seeming to lighten the atmosphere around it. Laughter bubbled from within me, swinging out as Sebastian spun me, all heaviness from earlier completely forgotten, before pulling me back and continuing to lead us through a complicated mazurka. The carefree elation that lightened my chest was a welcome one, the combination of the champagne and dancing with Sebastian a pleasant distraction from the darker thoughts attending this ball had stirred. And, if I was any judge of his expressions, even Sebastian seemed to be in uncharacteristically good spirits as well. He too had become encumbered with the burden of my past and the task to find Father and I could tell, even though he never spoke of it to me, that our lack of progress was beginning to wear on him as well. However, those thoughts seemed far away as the music spurned us to move at an ever increasing pace. A pleased smile lit his face as he led us from one step to the next, his body moving with fluid grace with mine. Even though we had only danced the once at the New Year's celebration, we moved with the ease and synchronization of a couple who had been dancing partners for years. My body moved unconsciously with his lead-his every move immediately mirrored with my own.

"I believe his lordship could learn a thing or two from us." Sebastian quipped, smile widening as we flawlessly moved through a spinning side step.

I raised a questioning brow, waiting until we had moved to a less rigorous portion of the dance to ask between breaths, "Does the earl...have difficulty dancing?"

Sebastian gave a surprising roll of his eyes, an amused smile teasing his lips.

"You have no idea."

I gave another heartfelt laugh at his response. I knew that Sebastian had taken over Ciel's dance lessons after the last instructor, Mrs. Rabourn, had given her letter of resignation, stating in the kindest way possible that the young earl was a hopeless case when it came to the art of dance. When Sebastian had told me she had said as much, I thought perhaps she had been overreacting and that she simply couldn't handle Ciel's stubborn nature. It appeared my assumption had been incorrect.

We gave a few more turns of the veranda, a slight sheen of sweat beading on my nose from the activity. I breathed a sigh of relief as the music paused and took the opportunity to return to where Sebastian's champagne sat untouched. I picked up the glass, gesturing it towards him in question.

He shook his head, replying, "Go ahead. I have no interest in it."

I gave a quiet "thank you", taking a sip before picking up my fan from where I had left it on the banister and, with a flick of my wrist, began to fan myself. Leaning back, I gave another soft sigh as I rested my back against the firm hold of the banister, adjusting some of the weight off my aching feet. Sebastian leant back as well, reclining on his elbows beside me, the moonlight glinting eerily off the horns of his mask, before casting a playful glance towards me.

"You seem rather winded. I would have thought your training would have worked you into better shape than that." he teased, his voice laced with humor as he could no longer repress his grin.

Of course he would say something like that, I thought, rolling my eyes and shaking my head as I took another sip, wondering how the man standing next to me hadn't even a flush of exertion on his cheeks. My mask was unbearably hot, his must have been sweltering. Yet, as I glanced over his form once more, he appeared completely unaffected.

"I find that to be a rather unfair assessment," I began, casting him a pointed look, "You are at a natural advantage, given you do not have to move about with twenty-five pounds of fabric encumbering you."

"An ignorant oversight on my part," Sebastian replied, feigning humility as he placed his hand over his heart and bowed towards me, "Do forgive me."

My lips quirked with a subtle smile as I returned my attention to the ballroom, "I shall overlook your ignorance, but just this once. I'm feeling rather generous tonight."

My smile widened as Sebastian's chuckle sounded from beside me.

"Your mercy knows no bounds, my lady."

An easier, more comfortable silence descended upon us as we watched on at the party that continued to thrive mere meters away. Grandly dressed couples moved with grace to the more intimate, less lively music of the quartet. Around them stood many more lords and ladies, all engrossed in their own little worlds while servants flitted between them, the look of obvious exhaustion a stark contrast to the bright, animated looks of the nobles they served. Their weariness was ignored, being forced to answer the beck and call of any guest who needed them, instead.

"So what does it feel like, watching such a display with the knowledge that you are now an outsider?"

Sebastian's question broke the silence and I turned my attention to him once more, taken off guard by the sudden seriousness of his tone. I glanced up at him, his gaze patiently expectant as he waited for an answer.

"I don't feel all that different, I suppose," I began, returning my attention to the ballroom, "Even when I was a child I knew I was an outsider. My father served in the Underworld, like his father before him, so he taught me things I needed to know because I was his daughter...things that young girls should never need to have knowledge of. To my father's credit, he tried to preserve my innocence as much as he could, but more often than not, my innocence was sacrificed for my protection." I paused, glancing over to Sebastian once more.

He nodded for me to continue, so I took another sip from my glass before pressing on, "My friends thought I was odd because I wasn't allowed to go all the places they were, because they were ignorant of their true nature and I was not. This continued even as I came of age and was introduced to society. I was a daughter of the Underworld and I would marry within those ranks, my union most likely one of necessity rather than by any influence of the heart. My courting years were not filled with the excitement of flirtation and innocent discovery like other girls my age. There was no need for it-my match had already been made for me. The only comfort I had was that I had been betrothed to Ciel because I knew the Phantomhives would always take care of me."

Sebastian hummed, pursing his lips in thought at those words, but gave no other response.

"I have always loved the Phantomhives deeply and still do," I paused, standing aright once more and brushed off the back of my skirt before I continued, "And even though our betrothal ended, I am still happy for Ciel. Lizzy will make him a much better wife than I ever could."

"Why do you say that?" Sebastian asked, turning my attention towards him once more.

"Because, as much as I care for Ciel, I never would have been able to love him more than a dear friend. When I courted a few others after my betrothal had been severed, I realized that would be true for anyone I would marry-that I would be unable to love them as a wife should. That was, until I met-...," I blanched, stopping myself before I could speak the words.

My face flushed as Sebastian's mouth quirked with an all too familiar smirk and I tore my gaze from his, taking another unladylike drink to finish off my glass.

"But that is beside the point," I firmly stated as I sat the glass on the banister and closed my fan, "The point is that with between my connections to the Underworld and the events of Italy, I don't believe I could have ever been a part of their world. For all its faults and limitations, there is also light and innocence. And I fear my world is quite the opposite."

Sebastian gave an oddly knowing smile at those words, pushing off the banister to stand next to me.

"I believe even if none of those events had transpired, you still would have felt out of sorts in such a world." He paused, giving his waistcoat a firm tug and straightening the midnight blue silk of his puffed necktie before taking a step towards me, his gaze never leaving mine as he closed the gap between our bodies, his voice low and ominous as he added, "You see, my lady, darkness suits you."

My eyes searched his, my mind whirring as I tried to make sense of what he had said. I opened my mouth to ask just exactly what he meant by that, when a theatrical shout echoed from the ballroom.

"My lords and ladies, may I have your attention, please!"

Both our gazes snapped to where the voice had originated to see a man standing on a platform in front of the crowd, somehow more dramatically decorated than some of the guests, his face beaming with an overly acted smile.

"That appears to be our cue," Sebastian mumbled, to me or himself, I wasn't sure. However, a moment later, he grabbed my hand, lacing his long fingers with mine as he led me back towards the ballroom with a quiet, "Follow me."

As a stroke of luck, navigating around the crowd was easy enough as most of the guests had moved towards the far side of the ballroom to get a better view of the show, which was to our advantage. The show was only supposed to last a half hour. Every minute was critical if our search was to be successful. Sebastian's grip on my hand tightened as I followed close behind, letting him bear the brunt of navigating through those who lingered on the outskirts of the group. Once we had cleared the main mass of guests, he guided me to his side, looping my arm around his as we wove our way between the smaller groups that were scattered about the remainder of the large room.

"Sebastian," I whispered out of the corner of my mouth.

Without looking at me, he softly replied, "Yes, my lady?"

"You need to talk to me."

"What?"

"You need to talk to me." I repeated with more emphasis, as we looped around a larger group, whose members had resorted to shouting in order to be heard over the ruckus of the performance, "We are lovers slipping away from a party, not mourners attending a funeral. We need to look as if we are having fun."

"Are you not having fun, Lady Renfield?" he asked, offering a teasing smile as he finally caught my hint.

I giggled at his question, a false on my lips as I replied, words in utter contradiction to the joyful tone in which I spoke them, "I would be having more fun if someone hadn't done my corset up so tightly."

"I'm afraid it couldn't be helped," he quipped, offering a fake smile that mirrored my own, "Need I remind you that the dress was not tailored to your exact measurements and that you are more," he paused, glancing quickly down to where the ample swell of my breasts could be seen, before continuing, "blessed in certain areas that the owner is not. Tightening the corset was the only way to ensure the dress would fit properly."

A fresh, burning flush warmed my cheeks and down my neck as I cast my gaze away from him. Sebastian's hearty laugh rang through the air at my embarrassed silence.

"Oh, come now, my lady. Don't be cross. You are my lover after all, so I was bound to notice."

"Oh really?" I challenged, lowering my voice as I shot a pointed look up at him, finally having found my voice, "And I suppose I was bound to notice when you just so happen to come outside when Finny and I are tending to the laundry, so you can chop firewood with your shirt unbuttoned."

Sebastian scoffed in feigned innocence, placing his hand on his chest as if he had been injured.

"If I didn't know any better, I would say you were insinuating that I do so on purpose. I am simply tending to a duty that needed seen to and I cannot help that the weather has taken a warmer turn." he paused, us both speaking greetings to a couple as we passed by, finally exiting the ballroom and into the great hall, "However, it is a reward all its own to know one's efforts are not overlooked. You do flatter me."

I sighed, trying to ignore how my stomach pleasantly flipped as he gave another hearty chuckle, a genuine smile lighting his face.

"Nevermind all that. Can you tell me where you're taking me?"

"If Lady Gabrey's directions are correct, we should head to the billiard's room." Sebastian explained as he continued to lead us down the broad hallway, "Apparently there is a stairway hidden behind a panel in the wall that goes directly up to the second floor. Lord Willoughby uses it to escort female company up to his chambers so he isn't caught by any of the other guests that may be about the main hallway."

I chuckled humorlessly, shaking my head as we came to a stop outside a door I could only assume was to the billiards room.

"Well, it would seem that, for once, a man's infidelity is serving someone other than himself."

"Indeed."

At that, Sebastian took a quick glance about to ensure we weren't being watched. There were people here and there along the long length of hallway, but they all seemed to be too engrossed in their own discussions to pay us any mind.

"Now," he began, calling my attention back to him, "I will go in and ensure there is no one in the room. Then I will return to retrieve you."

I nodded in acknowledgement, Sebastian disappearing soundlessly into the room a moment later. Turning away from the billiard room door, I snapped my fan open once more, allowing my eyes to wander the hall as I began to fan myself.

The paintings that lined the wall across me caught my attention in particular. The subjects had been former relatives of the baron, now long since past, but their stern frowns, forever immortalized in canvas and oil, still pinned the observer to the spot as if their painted eyes could coax out the most hidden secrets of the soul. I shook my shoulders, trying to shirk the uneasy feeling that had begun to settle in my stomach at the thought. Where was Sebastian? I wondered. What was taking him so long?

As if on cue, the door beside me opened, Sebastian silently gesturing me to come in. I obediently entered, closing the door behind me before following him across the room to where a door that would have otherwise been hidden by the paneling that lined the walls stood slightly ajar. I raised my brows in appreciation as I joined him by the entrance. I was impressed he had found it that quickly. Giving a quiet "thank you" I took the lit candle he offered in one hand while my other hand gathered a handful of the material of my skirt, lifting it slightly so I wouldn't trip in my ascension of the stairs and began the climb.

The stairway grew darker after Sebastian closed the door behind us and I found myself gripping the candle holder a little tighter, thankful Sebastian had the foresight to realize there wasn't proper lighting in the stairway. The air around me seemed to thicken, a tightness beginning to grip my chest as we continued our way upward, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the stone steps and walls. I knew the stairway was only two flights, but in the dim lighting, it seemed to stretch on forever. In the back of my mind it felt as though I could hear the ticking of Sebastian's pocket watch, each second drawing us closer to when we might have to abort the mission.

I took a deep breath, a determined frown creasing my brow as I fought to stifle my anxiety and resolutely rounded the corner to begin ascending the second flight. Though it had not been explicitly said, everything about this felt like it was a test from the Queen and I would not fail to meet her expectations, not if I could help it. She still had not appointed a new Silencer so there was a chance I could be reinstated, though there was no shortage of contenders. Ciel had informed me that the rumors I had heard from Mr. Woodley were, in fact, true-several members of some of the most prominent families in the Underworld were vying for the position. It was then I resolved that, so long as that chance remained, I would strive for it. I would do everything in my power to become the next Silencer for Her Majesty, if only to spite those who had worked so tirelessly to destroy me.

"I think for the sake of time, I will search the library." Sebastian's soft voice broke the silence.

I nodded. However, when he offered no response, I realized he must not have seen my nod, given the dim lighting our two candles provided and added, "I agree. I will search his study. Once one of us is done, we will find the other and make our way back downstairs through this stairway and leave."

"Very good." Sebastian said as we reached the narrow landing at the top of the second flight.

"We should hurry," he warned, glancing at his pocket watch before closing it and slipping it into his pocket, "The performance will only last for another twenty minutes."

I nodded once more before cautiously cracking the door open enough so I could take a quick look to ensure there was no one in the hallway. I gave a sigh of relief when there was not another soul in sight. The only nearby sounds I detected were the laughter, clapping, and conversation of the party that echoed up the large, open set of stairs further down the hallway to the right.

I silently gestured forward with my free hand, letting Sebastian know we were safe to proceed before slipping from behind the door and into the hallway. Not bothering to glance back to see if Sebastian followed, knowing by now that he was fully capable of handling his end of things, I swiftly made my way down the corridor and turned right round the corner. If the construction blueprints were still correct and no alterations had been made since the mansion had been built, the baron's study was located at the end of this hallway, his bedroom attached to the left of his study. My footsteps were muted by the thick, richly hued carpet that lined the floor, for which I was thankful. Swiftness and stealth were critical in this moment and I didn't want to jeopardize my chances by drawing unwanted attention to my activities. As I approached the door, I cast a wary glance behind me to ensure I would not be seen, before reaching out and cautiously trying the handle.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding when the handle gave way. Thanking whatever gods there may be that the door hadn't been locked, I slipped inside and closed the door behind me with a quiet thud. In truth, we had been rather fortunate so far in the execution of our mission. I could only hope our fortune would not run out.

The carpet from the hallway continued into the study, expanding to cover the entirety of the floor. Directly across from the entrance there were three large windows through which the moonlight flooded, bathing the large wooden desk that sat in front of the windows in its milky light. A smaller desk sat immediately in front of the far left window, Lady Willoughby's writing desk, I assumed. To my surprise, there were no bookshelves in the room, unlike Ciel's study. That was to my advantage, I reminded myself as I maneuvered around the couch and two chairs that sat facing each other in the middle of the room, books would have proved to be too tedious of a search.

I wondered how Sebastian was getting on as I sat the candle on the windowsill and began scouring the desk for any correspondence that would offer any information to assist my investigation. Searching the library was a daunting task, one that I knew he would most likely not be able to complete.

"We'll just have to do what we can." I whispered aloud, in an attempt to reassure myself as I meticulously returned the letters to where they had been laying on top of the baron's desk. There could be no trace that I had been here.

For the next ten minutes, I did everything but upturn the furniture as I looked in drawers-both apparent and hidden, underneath cushions, and checked for any hidden compartments in the room only to find nothing. As each minute passed, my search became more frantic, more desperate. There had to be something. This couldn't have all been for nothing. All of the evidence pointed to him as the next link in the twisted chain we were following. But where was it?

I put my hands on my hips, brow furrowing as my gaze traveled across the room once more, wracking my brain for somewhere, anywhere else the information could've been hidden. My thoughts came to a screeching halt, however, when the handle of the door gave a quiet click. Dropping to the floor, I crouched behind the shelter of the desk just as the door opened. I cursed Sebastian as my hands reflexively went to reach for guns that weren't there. If I made it out of this alive, I swore as the door softly closed, the footsteps of whoever had entered slowly approaching my hiding place, I was going to kill him.

I took a deep breath as the footsteps stopped just short of the desk, the realization of what I must do reigning in my hurried thoughts. If I wanted any chance of surviving, I was going to have to fight. Springing to my feet, I swung my right arm out to make a calculated strike towards the figure, only to have a hand quickly grasp my wrist before I could lay the blow.

"Sebastian?" I hissed, my mind finally recognizing the masked figure before me, "What are you doing?"

"I have finished searching the library, so I came to retrieve you as we had agreed." he answered matter-of-factly as he lowered my arm and released my wrist from his hold.

I huffed at his nonchalance, shooting him a scathing glare.

"You could have made yourself known, at least. I could have hurt you."

At this Sebastian chucked, "I can assure you, you will have to try much harder if you want to surprise me."

"Nevermind," I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, "Did you find anything?"

My heart sank as Sebastian shook his head.

"Unfortunately my search was fruitless. What about you?"

"Nothing in here, either." I bemoaned, leaning against the desk and looking about the room once more. There had to be something we missed.

"Could there be another room where he would hide communication of such import?" Sebastian asked, glancing down at the letters that were strewn across the desk.

I chewed my bottom lip, my brows dipping in concentration once more as I considered his question.

"His smoking room, by chance?" I considered aloud, desperation clear in my voice as I continued, "But that is located on the first floor and is sure to be crowded tonight, so we won't be able to search it."

I paused, continuing my verbal train of thought, "Perhaps in the billiards room?"

Sebastian shook his head, his attention returning to me as he answered, "From what I saw, there weren't any suitable hiding places for documents. Even so we would not be able to search it thoroughly, either, seeing as there is only five minutes before the performance ends."

I hummed at his words, crossing my arms as I continued to review the image of the mansion's blueprint in my mind. I could not-no, would not, concede defeat, not yet. Not when we were so close. There wouldn't be another opportunity like this to investigate the baron's private chambers.

"Wait!" I gasped suddenly, coming to stand fully aright, Sebastian's eyes widening at my outburst.

"His chambers!" I loudly whispered, almost sprinting to the door before opening it, "Of course."

"Need I remind you that we are almost out of time?" Sebastian chided as he entered behind me, setting his candle and mine on the vanity before returning to close the door, "We cannot conduct a thorough search on borrowed time."

He sighed as I paid no mind to his words, heedlessly continuing my search of the right bedside table instead, before he walked to the wardrobe and began searching its contents.

"While at times I admire your and my master's undeterrable spirit, it can be rather tiresome," he grumbled.

An amused smile tugged at my lips as I moved to the left side of the bed to inspect the other bedside table, "Why, Sebastian, are you pouting? I thought a Phantomhive butler should be above such things."

"I am not pouting." he denied, glancing over towards me, obviously not sharing in my amusement, "I am simply stating that sometimes when you two are so insistent on winning, it can make my job overly complicated."

"Still sounds like pouting to me." I mumbled under my breath, cracking another smile when Sebastian shut the wardrobe doors a little louder than I was sure he meant to.

A few minutes later, Sebastian came to stand by my side where I stood beside the bed, a contemplative hand on my chin as I thought of any more places to look that we had yet to consider.

"I'm afraid I've allowed this to continue long enough. It is now ten past two. We need to leave."

"Just one more minute." I mumbled to myself more than him as I took one of the candles he was holding in his hands.

I set it on the floor just in front of me before getting on my knees and leaning so I could look under the bed. With bated breath, my eyes scanned the shadowed floor, hoping against all hope that our fortune would return.

"I have given you ten more minutes than I should. Now, please do not try my patience and get up." he commanded before taking hold of my shoulder.

Just then, the candlelight glinted on something near the head of the bed. I blinked, ensuring I hadn't imagined the metal box that was tucked away, its contents locked within, but when I looked again, it was still there.

"Wait," I pleaded, blindly swatting at Sebastian's hand as he began to gently pull me upwards, quickly adding, "I see something."

Sebastian paused, "What is it?"

"It's a box," I replied, straining as I tried to reach for it, "It's locked. So, even though it may not be what we're looking for, it's probably something important." I paused, huffing in frustration as the box continued to be just out of reach, "I cannot reach it, though."

"Let me see." Sebastian said as he carefully stepped around where I was still prostrated on the floor, coming to kneel in front of me.

He turned his face towards me, resting his head against the base of the bed before reaching his arm underneath the bed. My gaze held his as I expectantly watched his expression for any sign he had been able to lay hands on the box, my heart leaping with excitement when a moment later his expression shifted.

However, instead of the light of success brightening his visage, his attention snapped above my head to where the door of the bedroom lay behind us, his brows furrowing as he warned with a low voice, "We must hide. Someone is coming."

"Under the bed. Quickly." he added, jumping to his feet as he grabbed the candle from the floor.

Even though I couldn't hear anyone approaching, I did not question his command. Though I didn't know how, he seemed to have a better sense of these things. So, without second thought, I pressed myself as close to the floor as I could and began to crawl headfirst under the king sized, four post bed. My elbows burned as the silk of my gloves chaffed my skin as they ground against the carpet. I made quick work of getting my torso underneath the cover of the bed, however, a moment later I found I could no longer move forward.

I swore under my breath just as Sebastian appeared on the floor on the other side of the bed.

"What is it?"

"It's this godforsaken bustle!" I hissed as I tried pushing forward again, but to no effect. "I can't get it under the bed."

Sebastian sighed, looking as if he wanted to slam his head against the floor in frustration, "Really...I don't know how I keep getting myself in these situations."

Pushing off the floor, I heard the bed above me creak before the light footfalls of Sebastian's feet hitting the floor sounded behind me-he must have leapt across the bed.

"Well, there's nothing for it." he sighed, my body stiffening as I heard the shifting of my skirts before I felt the coolness of his leather gloves quickly sliding up my thighs before disappearing, "It will have to come off."

With a swift tug, my legs were tickled by the bustle's cushion and ties as he pulled it from underneath my skirt. Taking this as my cue, I pushed forward once more, the rest of me sliding under the bed with relative ease, not stopping until I had crawled to the middle of the bed. As Sebastian joined me, bustle in hand, I looked down in the direction of the door. I could now hear voices, one male and the other female, approaching the room. I glanced over to Sebastian as he removed his mask, doing my best to slow my hurried breathing as a feminine laugh rang out at something the man had said. They were in the study now.

"Oh, Lord Willoughby, you always know how to make me laugh." the woman said.

The baron let out a low chuckle, before opening the door to his chambers.

"I believe I know how to make you do more than laugh, Lady Gabrey."

Sebastian and I both raised our brows at this exchange. It would appear Lady Gabrey had managed a conquest after all. The door slammed shut with a loud bang, causing me to jump, before sounds of feverish, sloppy kissing filled the otherwise quiet room. Oh good heavens, I thought, covering my face with my hands. Of course this would happen.

Lady Gabrey gave a soft moan, earning a hum of approval from the baron as things were obviously becoming heated rather quickly. Finally, I worked up the courage and peaked between my fingers to find Sebastian pinching his nose, eyes closed, his brows furrowed with frustration. He slowly opened his eyes, gaze searing with reproof, clearly blaming me for our current predicament. I lowered my hands, offering a sheepish smile in way of apology. However, his expression did not falter, causing the gnawing sensation of dread that had been building in my chest to grow, knowing that there would most likely be a severe tongue lashing awaiting me in the not too distant future.

My attention snapped to my left as two pairs of shoes landed on the floor beside the bed. Even though I logically knew that the bed was large enough to adequately hide us from view, I still found myself shuffling closer to Sebastian, only stopping when my side pressed against his. I continued to watch, my heart pounding in my chest, fearing any moment that we could be caught. The bed creaked as Lady Gabrey's skirt and Lord Willoughby's still clothed legs disappeared from sight, the sounds of rustling fabric following soon after.

My eyes widened when a moment later Lady Gabrey's drawers landed unceremoniously on top of the shoes and I turned my head away from the sight, choosing to stare resolutely at the carpet instead. I couldn't face Sebastian, not right now. Above us, the sound of kissing, sighing, and moaning continued, the bed groaning with their every move. I closed my eyes, inwardly groaning, I didn't know at this point what would kill me first, the fear of being discovered or the burning embarrassment of being an unintentional audience to their private interlude.

"Lord Willoughby." Lady Gabrey sighed.

"I believe we are on more intimate terms than that, my pet," the baron growled in a deep voice, "Please, call me Jacob."

"Jac-ah!" Lady Gabrey, cried out as the bed gave a particularly loud creak, her moan answering Lord Willoughby's sigh.

My eyes snapped open as a noticeable rocking and creaking from the bed began, quickly establishing a steady beat. I stared at the floor, my breath becoming shallow, eyes wide as the sounds of their copulation filled the room. However, in my mind's eye, we were no longer hiding under the bed of a nobleman. I could feel the fire's heat, the burn as the ropes cut into my wrists and ankles, their hands roaming my body, touching and kneading places they had no right to. The moans and cries from above us were not from the two lovers, but rather them. My chest tightened painfully, tears pricking my eyes as I tried to breathe, but I couldn't.

"Sarah." Sebastian's voice whispered softly in my ear. I wanted to answer, but his voice seemed so far away.

"Sarah, please look at me."

Slowly, my body moving almost reflexively to his words rather than by a conscious decision to move on my part, I turned my head to face him once more. His face was mere inches from mine, his expression purposefully neutral.

"Is it alright if I touch you?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I nodded slightly before Sebastian moved closer, guiding my head so it rested on the crook of his shoulder, before placing a steadying hand on my back.

"Now breathe," he gently commanded, his lips brushing against my ear.

I took in a shuddering breath, his scent immediately overpowering my senses, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon causing my body to release some of the tension that had pulled it taut, no longer feeling the ropes.

"And out."

I let out a slow, controlled breath from my lips over Sebastian's neck and into his hair. As I continued to let out the full breath, I could have sworn I felt Sebastian's body tremble.

"Again." he whispered, a slight edge to his voice as he spoke the words.

I continued this for another ten breaths, each one carrying away the vision that had taken over my thoughts but moments ago. Yes, I thought clenching my hands, the feel of the carpet beneath my gloved fingers grounding me back in the moment. I breathed in once more, burying my nose in Sebastian's hair. I was with Sebastian. I was safe.

"Are you alright now?" he asked, seemingly breathless.

"Yes," I softly whispered against his ear, "Thank you."

This had not been the first time Sebastian had been my anchor, my comfort when these attacks would distress me. Since the truth of what had happened to me in Italy had been revealed three months ago, he, along with the other servants, had taken it upon themselves to help me cope with the aftermath. Bard and Finny had been the most helpful at first, but Sebastian made a quick study of what coping mechanisms soothed me best. So much so, that within two weeks, he became the chief person who looked after my care. He would come to me on the nights when I would wake, screaming in terror, doing whatever he could to soothe the rampant, primal fear those dreams would provoke. Whether that required remaining by my side for hours talking, reading, or, on very rare occasions, laying down next to me, holding me close until I somehow managed to drift back to sleep. During the day, he would comfort me much like he was now, slowly coaxing me from my waking nightmares and grounding me one more in reality. There would even be times where he would assuage me, just as an attack was setting in, almost as if he could sense what was happening before the signs were evident. And, as the weeks turned into months, I found that the attacks became less frequent until they only happened on chance occasions and I began to consistently sleep soundly throughout the night.

I was pulled from my thoughts as the bed gave a particularly long groan, Lord Willoughby grunting as he rose. Reluctantly, I turned away from the comfort of Sebastian's shoulder to focus on what was happening along the left side of the bed.

"Jacob," Lady Gabrey simpered as he slipped on his shoes, "Will you not remain with me awhile? I do not wish to leave your side so soon."

Please don't say yes. Please don't say yes. My thoughts pleaded, staring at the baron's feet as if I could will him to do my bidding. I had become acutely aware of how my hips and breasts ached from resting against the unforgiving floor and I did not wish to be stuck in this uncomfortable position any longer than necessary.

The sound of a soft kiss answered her request before the baron replied, "I am afraid I can't, my darling. We must return to the party before my wife notices our absence."

Lady Gabrey sighed, the bed groaning once more as she moved to stand beside her lover. Her violet skirts rustled as she quickly worked her drawers back on and stepped into her shoes.

"Will I see you again?" she softly asked.

"Soon, I hope."

A few more short kisses were shared before Lord Willoughby's feet turned towards the door.

"Come, my darling. We can delay no longer."

With that, the two made their way out of the room, closing the door softly behind them. As the sounds of their retreating footsteps faded away, I gave a sigh of relief and turned back to Sebastian.

"Not yet." he said, a staying hand pressing against my back as his brows dipped in concentration.

My brows furrowed in turn, my ears straining as I tried to detect what he was hearing, but there was nothing. Still, I waited, trusting he would know best when we were out of danger of being discovered.

Several moments later, his frown lessened, nodding towards me as he said, "Ok. We are safe now."

He reached above his head, grabbing the box with ease before edging his way towards the right side of the bed. At this, I began crawling, my elbows instantly burning from the friction as I pulled myself forward. Given that leaving the shelter of the bed wasn't quite as urgent as seeking it had been, the length that I had to carry myself seemed much longer than I had remembered. I grit my teeth as I gave one final pull, my elbows digging painfully into the carpet, my head emerging from underneath the bed.

"Here." Sebastian directed, reaching down towards me.

I reached my arms up towards him, gratefully grabbing hold of his hands tightly before, with a swift tug, he pulled the rest of me from underneath the bed. The grinding of the crystals that adorned my skirt against the carpet caused me to grimace, knowing there was no way the dress had not been ruined in some way.

"I do hope you are pleased with yourself," Sebastian began, casting me a soured look as he gripped my forearms, supporting my weight as I struggled to my feet, "I was half tempted to gauge out my eardrums so I wouldn't have to listen to that deplorable affair."

My eyebrow quirked as I looked up at him, "Would it please you to know it was just as unbearable for me?"

"No," he quipped, "Though, need I remind you that the whole thing could have been avoided if you had listened and we left when I first suggested we should?"

I sighed as he released his hold on me and I busied myself by brushing the wrinkles from my skirt.

"True. However, if I had heeded your warning, the failure of the mission would have been guaranteed." I paused, gesturing to where he had placed the box on the bed, "Now we have one last chance to acquire what we need. At the very least, this should hold something that could be used as leverage against Lord Willoughby."

Sebastian was quiet for a few moments, before conceding with a dramatic sigh, "Maybe so, but at what cost? I don't believe I shall ever be able to rid that from my mind."

I rolled my eyes, my expression hidden from him as I removed one of the pins from my wig

"Don't be so melodramatic," I mumbled, taking the lock in my hands and turning it where I could, assessing its build as I added, "And keep quiet. I can't have you distracting me while I pick this."

To his credit, Sebastian listened to my request, choosing instead to walk over to the vanity to check his appearance before putting his mask back on. Once I was confident that he had been pacified for the moment, I returned my attention to the lock. I chewed my bottom lip as I slipped the tip of the pin into the keyhole, frowning in concentration as I carefully began to work the pin inside.

It took several minutes before the lock gave its first hint of a snap, long enough for Sebastian to rejoin me, though his presence did not help. If anything, it only served to intensify the pressure to work faster, which was counterproductive. Picking locks was a tedious affair that required undivided attention and utmost care. Things like this could not be rushed. The snap had been a sign I was working in the right direction, though, and with a few more cautious movements, the lock unlatched with a quiet snap.

I gave a cry of joy, quickly removing the lock and opening the box, Sebastian and I immediately setting to work examining its contents. My assumption about the importance of whatever the box contained had been correct, as most of the items were letters of correspondence regarding various shipments he would handle for those in the Underworld-letters that were incriminating enough to be used against the baron if needed. However, to my disappointment, there was not a word about the missing girls or other trafficked persons.

Just as I was about to tell Sebastian that we should wrap up our search and admit that, for today, we would have nothing to show for our efforts, he lifted what appeared to be the bottom of the box to reveal a medium sized black book. Grabbing it from its hiding place, I began to flip through the pages.

"It appears to be a ledger of sorts." I said as Sebastian returned the box to the bed and moved to look over my shoulder to view its contents as well, "But nothing seems out of the ordinary."

As I flipped another page, Sebastian reached over me, putting his hand on the page I had just turned.

"What is it?" I asked, turning my head to give him a questioning look.

"I think I saw something." he explained, leaning forward slightly as he coaxed the previous page from under my fingers and turned it back over.

My cheeks flushed and I returned my attention to the book, doing my best to ignore how he was pressed against my back as we both scrutinized the page once more.

"What was the date Lady Evans was abducted?" he asked.

"December 19th, I believe. The same day as Lady Steward and Lady Gibson."

"Look here," he instructed, pointing to a line near the bottom of the page, marked for the nineteenth of December, "Three shipments of precious gems."

I hummed in consideration as I flipped a couple of pages forward, my finger trailing down the page as I searched to see if I could confirm Sebastian's theory. My finger stopped at the next date, a gasp of joy escaping my lips, my mind racing at the possibility that we had finally found what we were looking for.

"And here. Seven shipments of precious gems on January 31, the day the girls from the factory went missing."

Going through the remainder of the ledger, we went page by page, verifying that, in fact, the shipments of precious gems correlated with the dates and number of girls who had been abducted. My heart felt as if it was going to burst from excitement. We did it. We could go now.

As I flipped to the June portion of the ledger, a letter slid from the book and onto the floor. I bent over to retrieve it only to find Sebastian had been quicker than me and had already done so.

"What is it?" I asked as I turned around to face him.

From where he was holding it, I could tell that there was no address on the face of the envelope save Lord Willoughby's. However, it was his displeased frown that caught my attention, my brows furrowing with concern as he handed the letter back to me.

"Look at the back."

Heeding his instruction, I flipped the letter, a bolt of icy fear jolting my body as I clearly made out the shape of a serpentine oroborus pressed into the crimson wax of the seal. What, if any, part did the Inifitas have in all of this? I opened my mouth to ask that very question when the grandfather clock in the hall chimed three.

"We need to go." I stated, slipping the letter back into the ledger book, "The ball will be over in a half an hour."

"I agree. I don't care for how close we are cutting this." Sebastian grumbled as he hastily placed the letters back into the box.

"The only thing we have to worry about now is leaving without managing to draw attention to ourselves." I huffed, stuffing the ledger in the slit of my bustle to ensure we could slip out with it without being discovered, "Besides, this will allow us to blend in with the rest of the guests who are leaving rather than having to make excuses for our early departure."

"Perhaps," he sighed, standing aright, the metal box now safely tucked away, before pointing at the bustle in my hands and adding, "What are we to do with that?"

A fresh flush came to my cheeks and I averted my gaze as I held the padded garment out towards him, my voice unsteady as I replied, "I need...I need you to put it on me."

Sebastian gave a deep chuckle at my modest answer before taking it from me. My ears perked as my skirts rustled below me, taking in a sharp breath as his gloved fingers began to trail up the back of my legs. Anticipation gripped my stomach as his touch traveled along my calves and up my thighs.

"My, my," Sebastian teased, drawing my attention to him.

My eyes briefly widened at the sight before me as Sebastian knelt on the ground, my skirts bunched up against his chest, his arms nowhere in sight. He flashed a salacious smile, his fingers ghosting over the firm fullness of my rear before wrapping the bands of the bustle about my waist.

"This is the second time you have invited me under your skirt tonight. What should I make of that, my lady?"

I huffed at his insinuation, shooting him a scolding glare before I reprimanded, "Oh, come off it. You know full well it does not mea-...!" an involuntary gasp cut off my answer, the muscles of my lower stomach twitching as his fingers glided over the sensitive area, the thin fabric of my chemise the only barrier between his gloved hands and my flesh. I bit my lower lip, quickly casting my gaze from him as my body warmed with a heat that wasn't fully fueled by modest embarrassment.

"What? Suddenly speechless?" Sebastian drawled, giving a firm tug to the bands before quickly tying them.

I stifled a sigh of relief as the sound of rustling fabric teased my ears and the weight of my skirt returned, allowing my mind to clear away the foggy haze that had enshrouded my thoughts in the wake of Sebastian's touch.

"Nevermind that," I chided, placing my hands on my hips as he rose to his feet, "We don't have time for this."

Sebastian covered his mouth and chuckled at my vague reproof, answering simply, "Indeed."

With that, he strode past me towards the door. I followed behind, sticking close to him like his shadow as we made our way from the baron's chambers, through the study, and into the hallway. We walked in determined silence, our measured footsteps the only sound that would alert someone to our presence. As we approached the turn of the corridor, the sounds of the party on the main floor began to grow increasingly louder. The enthusiastic laughter and boisterous conversation seemed louder than before, most likely because many of the guests had already begun to make their leave. No matter, I thought to myself as we rounded the corner and continued our way towards the hidden door further down the hall, we would be joining them shortly.

Without warning, Sebastian halted, almost causing me to crash into his side. My gaze shot up to him, about to tell him just that when his knees bent so he was slightly crouched in a defensive position, his right arm shooting out to shield me.

"But why do we have to do this now?" a woman said, her whining tone echoing up the hallway.

"Because his lordship said so, that's why," another woman, with a much gruffer voice, shot back before adding, "He wants us to change his bed before her ladyship can make it to his chambers and see the mess he's made."

Servants, I realized, glancing around Sebastian's arm. To my relief, I could not see them yet, but they were fast approaching. It would be impossible for us to make it to the hidden stairway in time and not be seen. My mind whirred as Sebastian's shoulders stiffened in preparation to attack, my gaze darting around the hallway, trying to spot a potential hiding place, but found none. There had to be an alternative to attacking them, doing so would only cause a scene that would overly complicate things. I clenched my hands, a coil of anxiety tightening my chest as their voices drew nearer. There had to be something that could be done that would hide us from obvious recognition...but what? My eyes widened as an idea came to my mind. I may come to regret it, but there was no time to think of the consequences. So, without a second thought, as Sebastian moved to spring forward, I took hold of his wrist.

"Sebastian, wait."

He halted at my words, whipping round to face me, his eyes flashing with obvious frustration.

"Kiss me."

My heartbeat thundered in my ears as the words passed from my lips, Sebastian's eyes widening in utter shock.

"What?"

"I said," I repeated, pulling him flush against me, placing his right hand on the small of my back as I reached up and ran my hand along the back of his neck before lowering his face towards mine, "kiss me."

Sebastian took in a sharp breath as I pressed my lips against his. It was then that something seemed to snap within him for, but a moment later, he pushed me forcibly against the wall, his left hand slipping to the back of my neck to deepen the kiss. An unbidden moan sounded from my throat as I became lost in the feeling of his soft, full lips against mine, responding with a fervor of my own as an insatiable fire ignited within me. I had wondered what he would taste like, but heavens, nothing could have prepared me for this. He was as delicious as sin.

A sound that was something akin to a growl rumbled in his chest in answer to my moan, his right hand pulling me firmly against his strong frame until it was difficult to tell where he began and I ended. The hand I had rested on the back of his neck trailed up until my fingers brushed against his silky onyx locks. I laced my fingers in his hair before grabbing a handful, tugging just enough to elicit a sound of approval from him. My chest heaved as I took in his scent, which circled intoxicatingly around us, each second spent tasting him, smelling him, feeling him fueling an intense, searing want. Suddenly my clothes seemed too heavy, too restrictive. I wanted him, I finally allowed myself to admit as my back arched in response to the path his fingers made down the rest of my back before eagerly grabbing for my rear. I wanted all of him...and I wanted him to take his fill of me, too.

A whine of disapproval escaped my lips as he broke the kiss, aching in the sudden absence of his touch.

"Please forgive me," Sebastian breathed, resting his forehead against mine, his voice low and gravelly as he added, "But if we had continued much longer, I would have forgotten myself."

I only gave a slight nod in response, closing my eyes as I tried to focus on steadying my hurried breathing. We remained for a couple moments longer, still locked in our embrace, our foreheads pressed together. Meanwhile, my thoughts were a disorienting cacophony as I struggled to comprehend what had just happened.

This had not been the first occasion we had kissed-there had been the time at the ball when we had killed Lord Carson. But this, I thought, arousal stirring within me once more as visions of just a few moments ago flashed through my mind, this was different. When he had kissed me at the ball, his actions had been purposeful, his movements controlled and calculating. But just now it had been the exact opposite, every movement, every touch had been driven by an uncontainable want...desperate need...and hunger.

My ears perked as I heard the voices of the maids float from down the opposite side of the corridor, where Sebastian and I had just come from Lord Willoughby's chambers.

"Good heavens, did you see those two?"

"Yes," the one with the gruffer voice answered, her tone full of disapproval, "Give yourself enough time here and you'll be seeing more of that. When these great lords and ladies get together, they feel as if they can do whatever pleases them, even if we would be given our notice if we did the same thing."

My cheeks grew warm with a fresh flush at their words, but I could not bring myself to be too ashamed, not when I still basked in the comfort of his embrace, my lips still tingling from our kiss.

"We should go." Sebastian sighed, hunger still lurking just beneath the surface of his gaze as he pulled back, looking down to me as he released his hold on me

In contradiction to his words, he reached up, curling his finger underneath my chin as his gaze rested on my swollen lips. Gingerly, he ran his thumb over my bottom lip, the sensation sending a subtle shiver down my spine.

"Quite right." I whispered, though I made no move to leave. I couldn't bring myself to do so.

It was then that an acute boom of a laugh echoed up from the party below, serving as an infuriating reminder that we were not here for pleasure, but rather purpose. At that, I gave a soft sigh and pulled myself away from where I had still been pressed against the wall before heading down the hallway once more. There was a job that needed to be done and we would see it through.

/

I heaved a great sigh as, twenty minutes later, we were finally safely tucked away within the carriage and travelling back to Angelina's. Doing so had been simple enough, everyone either too exhausted or intoxicated by the night's festivities to pay much mind to the mysterious Lord Elliott and Lady Renfield. The few who had broached to make conversation with us only did so on familiar pleasantries and never ventured deeper than the stories we had created for our aliases would cover. All in all, it had been a very successful evening.

Sebastian chuckled as I used my fan to cover my mouth as it spread wide with a yawn.

"Tired, are we?"

"It's forty past three in the morning. Of course I'm properly knackered." I retorted, before slipping my shoes off my aching feet and stretching my toes now that they were free, "I don't know why you have to sound so smug about it."

"I am just surprised is all. You seemed rather lively when we were talking to Marquis Raburgh a few minutes ago."

"That was only because the situation required it. Just wait until all the excitement has worn off." I replied, leaning my head back against the cushion of the seat as I looked out the carriage window, the lamps that lined the Willoughby's drive creeping by as we slowly made our way to the main street.

"Oh, I doubt that will change things," Sebastian replied, an odd amusement in his voice, "I am not a slave to such needs."

"Well aren't you lucky." I sarcastically mumbled, my eyes growing heavy as all the energizing effects of the mission were now gone, leaving the realization of how sore and exhausted I was in its wake.

As silence fell between us once more, my eyes drooped shut against my will. The sounds of the horse's hooves and the wheels against the gravel of the drive began to fade away, the welcoming unconsciousness of sleep making quick work of my tired body.

"Sarah." Sebastian softly called.

"Hm?" I blearily answered, forcing my eyes to open as I sat up and attempted to look to where he sat across the carriage from me. Though a moment later, my eyelids began to droop once more.

"I simply wanted to let you know that you did well today." he began, his face alight with pride, "There were several challenges we faced that could have compromised the mission, but your resourcefulness and quick wittedness allowed you to overcome those challenges, ultimately leading to the success of this operation. I will be sure to tell the young lord of your irreplaceable contribution today."

I smiled sleepily at him, swaying along with the carriage's movements as I slowly answered, "Thank you, Sebastian. You don't know how much that means coming from you."

He gave a warm smile at my words, placing his hand over his heart and bowing his head slightly towards me.

"You think too highly of me. I simply say that because it is true."

I hummed in acknowledgement, though I didn't really comprehend what he had said, my eyes closing once more as I could no longer keep them open. I had just begun to drift off when the carriage rocked, causing my head to bounce against the window. Sitting up, I rubbed the sore spot, shooting the window an accusing glare.

"Here."

I turned towards Sebastian as he rose from his seat, moving to sit beside me. Confused in my half awake state, I raised a questioning brow when he extended his arm towards me.

"It will be close to a half hour before we arrive at Madame Red's," he explained, motioning me towards his side, "And I don't want you to bump your head again. Come and rest your head on my shoulder instead."

If I had been more aware, I probably would have objected. However, at this point, I was willing to do anything so I could get some rest. So I found myself sliding the short distance, giving a sound of appreciation as I nestled against his side and rested my head on his shoulder. Taking a deep breath, his scent loosed any remaining hold I had on consciousness.

"Thank you, Sebastian." I mumbled, my words slow and soft, "You take such good care of me."

"Of course," he quietly replied, his voice seeming afar off as my body finally submitted to slumber, "I take great care of that which is mine."

/

Sebastian's POV

"This is turning into a very interesting business." the young lord stated, displeasure clear in his voice as he set the letter beside his now empty lunch plate. He reclined in his chair, crossing his legs and lacing his fingers as I began refilling his teacup, adding, "What would the Infinitas want with trafficked women, anyway?"

I paused pouring the overpoweringly floral scented tea, looking at him from the corner of my eye as I answered, "I am afraid I do not know, my lord. However, given that these women are being sent to this mysterious Father directly, we can assume that they are being used for some demonic purposes."

At this, his attention snapped up to me, his cerulean gaze icy. "Do you think he's consuming their souls?"

"I highly doubt that," I began, resuming pouring, "Demons can only consume a soul when a contract has been initiated or fulfilled or when it has been liberated from a human body by a reaper, but before their cinematic record's review is completed. We cannot simply rip a soul from its host. Though the second option is unlikely for a demon of the Father's rank. Demons who consume souls outside of a binding contract are most likely of a lower rank and are disgraceful creatures who have no respect for the ways of our kind."

My master's aura flared with disgust at this comment. Knowing I could not ignore such an opportunity, I turned to him, a falsely pleasant smile on my face as I stood.

"Why, you injure me, my lord. You do not think my kind noble enough to have honored traditions?"

"I don't believe your kind is capable of anything worthy of honor." he spat, before taking the teacup in his hand, "Back to the matter at hand, if he's not using these women for their souls, then what purpose do they serve?"

I shrugged in answer, while adding, "Unfortunately I could not say conclusively, not when there isn't any indication of what he wants them for. Humans can be used by demons for more purposes than sustenance alone. Who knows? Perhaps they are serving the typical purpose of trafficked women and are being used to pacify his carnal desires."

The young lord blanched, face instantly flushing a brilliant crimson as he sputtered, choking on the sip of tea he had just taken. Without a word, I handed him a kerchief from my pocket to cover his mouth as he coughed. I did my best to conceal my amusement as he shot me another reproving glare. Ah, sometimes it was too easy to get a rile out of the young earl.

"Enough," he said once he had found his voice, my contract seal tingling somewhat at his word, "We will just have to see what clues arise before we can figure out what the Father wants with these women, then." he paused, setting the teacup on the saucer with a light clink, "So what do you make of the strange gibberish at the end of the letter?"

I recalled the image of the text, the word 'imminent' repeating at the end twice, followed by only a fragment of the same word.

"It appears to be a code of some sort, but I would have to do some research to ascertain which one it is."

"Very well. We should pay Undertaker a visit on our way back to the manor as well. He might have knowledge about where the instructions from Lord Willoughby to his couriers are being exchanged." he stated, rising from his chair and making his leave of the dining room.

"Very good, my lord," I said, following him into the hallway, "What time would you like to depart? I'm afraid Sarah has yet to wake."

The young master cast a passing glance back to me as we began to ascend the stairs to the second floor, waving a dismissive hand, "Don't bother her yet. Aunt Angelina has requested that we dine with her when she returns from her shift at the hospital around four. We can leave after that."

"My, that's rather generous of you, my lord," I teased as he led the way down the hall and to the library, adding as we entered, "If I didn't know any better, I would venture to say you had a soft spot for those ladies."

"Tch." was the only response he gave as he walked over to the bookshelves, clasping his hands behind his back as he searched for a worthy text. After a couple of minutes, he settled on one of his favorites, Frankenstein, and made himself comfortable in a chair that sat in front of one of the library's many windows.

Soon, the only sounds that disturbed the silence were my young master's beating heart, the tick tock of the clock that sat on top of Madame Red's writing desk, and the occasional rustle of a page as it was turned. I looked towards the library door, listening for anything further, but there was nothing out of sorts. The expected noises of the servants working about the great house were the only ones I could detect, even Sarah's slumbering breaths were calm. That was until I heard her take a sharp intake of breath, a muted whimper of pain coming from her room.

"My lord," I called, ignoring the pointed look he shot at me for interrupting his reading, "Do you have everything you require?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

I moved round from my post beside the chair to stand in front of the earl. "If I may, may I step out for just a bit?"

His eye narrowed at my question, "Why?"

My ears perked as Sarah gave another whimper, the sheets of the bed rustling as she tossed about, soft cries for mercy falling from her lips.

"It appears Sarah is having a nightmare." I explained.

"Yes," he permitted with a nod, knowing look on his face, before adding, "But return to me once she is settled."

"Yes, my lord." I said, placing my hand over my heart and bowing towards my master.

At that, I turned on my heels and hurried from the room, coming to stand before the door of Sarah's guest chamber in the amount of time it would have taken a human to blink. My brows dipped in a frown as within the room, I heard her give a shrill cry, the terrified sound soon giving way to heaving breaths. She must have awoken. Taking this as my cue, I softly rapped my knuckles against the door.

After a brief pause, Sarah answered, her voice small and thick with emotion as she called, "Who is it?"

"It is Sebastian." I answered, placing my hand on the door handle, "May I come in?"

At first she gave no answer save the rusting of sheets, but a few moments later she answered with a quiet, "Yes."

Discreetly, I slipped into the guest room, closing the door soundlessly behind me. The room was dark, despite it being midday, thanks to the thick curtains that covered the two windows that sat on either side of the large sleigh bed. That was no bother to me, of course. Darkness had never hindered my vision.

Sarah had moved to sit upright as I entered, her delicate hands clasped tightly together where they rested on her lap, her gaze cast down as she struggled to stop the shaking of her breath. As I approached the bed, the frantic thrumming of her heart sounded in my ears, the stench of her fear perfuming the air. Normally I would enjoy the scent of a human's terror. There was a certain potency to the hopelessness that fueled it that made it acutely pleasing to me. However, I could only relish in it if I was the cause of the terror...and if it was not emanating from a human who I intended on making my mate. I had determined the moment she had revealed the truth of the events of Italy that, once my contract with the young lord was fulfilled, I would return to hell to find the souls of those who had been responsible for her defilement and exact a worse torture on them than they had inflicted on her before leaving them to be fed upon by the lower-lifed demons who scavenged hell's fiery depths. Then, and only then, would my wrath be satisfied.

"I am going to let a little light in." I announced as I walked over to the window that was to the left of the bed.

The grinding of the metal rings against the curtain rod sounded as I pulled the heavy curtains back to allow beams of the midday sun to shine into the room. Turning round towards the bed, unbridled rage burnt within me once more as I took in how her cheeks glistened with the wet trail of tears that flowed from her eyes; the long, wavy chestnut locks of her hair wildly askew from where she had been thrashing about in her frightened slumber; and how she sat, her shoulders shaking as she curled them forward as if she was attempting to make herself appear smaller. I was not furious with her, of course, her terror could not be helped. Rather it was the evidence of what had been done to her that fed my possessive anger as I made my way to her side. I did not care who this mysterious Father was-he could even be one of the lords of hell. If I ever found him, I would slay him where he stood.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, roughly wiping away her tears with trembling hands as I came to sit beside her on the bed.

"Come now," I soothed, gently placing my hand on hers as she lowered them to her lap, before adding, "I thought we had established before that there was no need to apologize when these nightmares come."

At first she gave no answer save a slight nod as she stared down at our hands as I lightly rubbed my thumb over her knuckles in an effort to provide some comfort. During times like these when she was so distressed, I found my instincts to soothe her pain urging me to act. However, given our differences in emotional capacities, I often found myself at a loss as to how to do so properly. My expertise was in easing physical pain rather than emotional. To my credit, I had been attentive to observe how others such as the servants attempted to help and did my best to mimic their actions. Even Menowin, despite the infuriating nature of his presence, had been a wealth of knowledge as to how best to comfort her.

"I know," she started, "but it had been almost a month since my last nightmare...I was hoping they would've stayed away a little longer."

I hummed at her comment, finding myself momentarily distracted by the thought that I wished I could feel her soft skin underneath my fingertips again as her full lips moved as she spoke. I shook my head at the thought. There would be time later to entertain such fantasies, but now was not that time.

"Perhaps it was the ball?"

"I believe that is most likely why, yes," she agreed, turning to look towards me, the sunlight catching her hazel eyes, causing them to light with a honey gold warmth. Her mouth twisted in a mournful smile as her eyes met mine, "Given the last ball I attended as a guest ended with me being groomed to become a demon's mate, I can see why last night stirred up those memories."

Oh will the ironies never cease?

"I wondered as much. You seemed to be wound rather tight." I paused, reaching with my other hand to tuck some stray hair behind her ear, "How are you now?"

She took another deep breath, returning her gaze to her lap as she answered, "I am fine now."

A lie, given the continued persistence of the scent of her fear and how tensely she held herself were a more honest report. However, I had learned that in these instances it was better to let her lie go unchallenged, otherwise she could be obstinately stubborn.

"What is the time?" she asked, turning to look towards the window.

"Half past noon."

At this, she gave a heavy sigh, returning her attention to me once more. "I suppose I should make myself presentable, then."

"His lordship does not wish to leave until we've dined with Madame Red at four o'clock." I countered, grasping firmly to her hands as she made to pull them away from mine, "So there is no need to rush. If you require more sleep, you are free to do so."

She gave no response at first, her brows creasing as she chewed her bottom lip, hesitation clear in her gaze.

"I will return and wake you at three if you have not risen by then." I added, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze.

I knew she needed more rest, the subtle imprint of dark circles under her eyes and the slouch of her shoulders were evidence enough to her fatigue. Last night had been more taxing on her than I had realized and I did not want her pushing herself more than needed, especially when the rare opportunity to rest was available.

"You do not think his lordship will mind?"

I shook my head in answer, "No, he is the only noble here and I am more than adequate to tend to his needs. Take the rest while you can, who knows what sort of catastrophe will be awaiting us upon our return to the manor."

She chuckled at that, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"You bring up a valid point."

Taking this as my cue to leave, I removed my hand from hers as I made to rise. Though a moment later I froze as she reached out and took hold of my hand.

"Sebastian, wait." she began, casting her gaze down, a subtle flush coloring her cheeks as she added in a quiet voice, "Please stay with me...at least until I fall asleep."

I smiled at her words, knowing just how much it had taken for her to make this request. Much like my master, Sarah did not want others to see her weaknesses, at least not those who she felt could not be trusted.

"Of course."

She smiled sheepishly, whispering "thank you" before laying down once more, rolling to face away from me. Another subtle smile teased my lips as she pulled the covers under her chin, nuzzling the pillow as she settled her body in the comfort of the blankets and mattress. I had witnessed her do this several times when she had made similar requests in the past and I had come to find the ritual strangely endearing, something about her actions reminding me of those of a cat when they are settling for a nap.

Fifteen minutes passed before her body gave a jerk, the sign she had finally drifted into a deep sleep. Her slow, even breaths caused some hair that had fallen across her face to fan out and I reached out, carefully moving the hair and tucking it behind her ear. Taking a deep breath, the aroma of her untainted scent filled my lungs and I relaxed in the relief of her peacefullness.

I glanced at my pocket watch, the time now a quarter til one, and considered whether I should return to my master yet or if I could indulge myself by remaining a little longer. As if answer to my inner musings, Sarah stirred and rolled over to face me. I decided as her nose brushed up against my thigh, slipping my pocket watch back into the pocket of my waistcoat as my spine tingled with a shiver of desire, my master could wait a little longer. He hadn't specified I had to return the exact moment she was settled.

So, in the spirit of indulgence, I removed my left glove, my fingers almost aching with yearning as I reached out to run my fingers through her soft, silky locks. My eyes burned, glowing as another wave of her scent washed over me. Yes, I thought as my gaze came to rest on her face, which had been rid of any care or distress in her slumbering state, I was fortunate to have found such a one to make my mate.

Not that the process so far hadn't been without its difficulties. Between Sarah's stubborn insistence on her virtue and the binding nature of my current contract, it had taken an infuriatingly long time to make as much progress as I had. To think that I would be given two such difficult tasks at once, it felt as if some cruel force was enjoying tormenting me. No bother, I thought as I continued to brush her hair with my fingers, I would rise to the challenge as always. After all, if I could not do so, what kind of butler would I be?

Under less dire circumstances, I would have taken my time as I had been initially doing, continuing to enjoy the tantalizing game of cat and mouse as I cultivated Sarah into a perfect mate. However, with the emerging knowledge of the enigma known as Father and the annoyingly persistent presence of Menowin, I could not forfeit my chances by prolonging this game any longer than necessary. To my favor, at least one of those constraints had been loosened a bit and, if the passion with which Sarah had kissed me earlier was a telling sign, her desire would soon overpower her needless sense of virtue and she would be mine.

It had taken some convincing on my part, but I had managed to persuade my master into allowing me to actively pursue taking Sarah as my mate. To say he had been displeased by the conclusion of those discussions was a gross understatement. However, he could not ignore the facts of the situation. Despite Sarah's disbelief of the claims of the Infinitas regarding Father's true nature, from her description of the things that had been done to her, I knew he was a demon, most likely a powerful one...and one who would do anything to obtain something as rare and precious as a human mate. This troubled my lord for multiple reasons, the chief of them being that, as a human mate, if Father was not successful in claiming her as his own, she would simply attract another demon. Menowin's interest in her had been enough to prove that true. So long as Sarah remained without a mate, she would be vulnerable, a constant object of attacks-attacks that had and would continue to place all who came in contact with her in danger. That was a risk neither my master nor I were willing to take.

There was also the fact that, as much as he begrudged admitting it, he knew what kind of demon I was. I may have been a being that was capable of terrible things, who would typically see humans as no more than prey who were worth nothing more than the fact that they sated my hunger and, occasionally, provided an entertaining distraction-a being that my master loathed with every fibre of his being. However, in my current contract he had one great advantage...I could not lie. So when I told him that, as long as Sarah remained my mate, she would be taken care of, would not come to harm, and that I had her best interests at heart, he knew it to be true.

Though that knowledge was not enough to satisfy his concerns, rather, he made me promise three things: that I would dedicate myself to Sarah's care, that I would protect her as I had protected him, and that I would never allow Sarah and I's relationship to supersede my contract with him. Then and only then did he give the order that I make Sarah my mate.

There would be a good many things that would have to be sorted before that could happen, though, I reminded myself as I trailed my fingers from her hair to the soft, supple flesh of her face. There were rituals that had to be performed, in addition to the pesky business that would be revealing my true nature to her and how she might handle the news of my master's contract. I sighed, relishing in the feeling of her skin underneath my fingertips and the pang of unfulfilled desire that touching her inflicted on me. Those were problems for another day. For now I could take solace in her growing trust and vulnerability with me and the hope that sometime soon she would finally yield herself to me.

/

"Your hat, my lord." I prompted, handing the article to him.

He said nothing in return, taking it from my hand placing it on instead. I glanced at my pocket watch, closing it with an impatient snap before taking another quick glance around the foyer. Where was Sarah? I thought, frowning as I turned my attention to the sounds about the great house, sighing inwardly in relief when I heard the sound of two sets of approaching footsteps coming from the upper floor, the conversation between Sarah and Lady Dalles quickly taking my interest.

"You seemed rather dodgy at lunch when I asked what happened last night," Lady Dalles started, her tone teasing, "So does that mean something happened between you and Sebastian last night?"

Sarah sighed before hesitantly answering, "Not exactly."

Curious. That's not what I remembered.

Apparently, her friend was as unconvinced as myself as a moment later, she gave an excited gasp, "So something did happen! What was it?" she momentarily paused in thought before quickly adding, "Oh, let me guess...did he kiss you?"

"No." Sarah curtly answered.

"Wait! Did you kiss him?!"

I smirked, Sarah's silence more telling than any words she could've spoken.

"YOU KISSED HIM!" Lady Dalles excitedly gasped, "You little minx, I didn't know you had it in you."

"It-it wasn't like that." Sarah stammered, "We were about to be discovered and there was nowhere we could hide, so we had to provide a believable reason for two people to be alone in the hallway and it seemed to be an expedient method."

Oh, so that's what she was trying to tell herself? I thought, restraining a chuckle. How adorable.

"Where is she?" my master seethed, drawing my attention back to him. "I want to get this troublesome visit to Undertaker over and done with so I can go home."

I offered a pleasant smile to the cross child, "Sarah will be joining us presently, my lord."

As I spoke the words, Sarah and Lady Dalles appeared at the top of the stairs and began to make their way down to us. Sarah quickly averted her gaze when hers found mine, her cheeks and ears still dusted pink from embarrassment.

"I do wish you could stay a few days longer," Lady Dalles said as they approached, Sarah coming to stand by my side, "My new butler is due to arrive later this week and I was hoping you could meet him."

"Perhaps another time, Aunt Angelina." my master answered, touching the rim of his hat as he gave a parting nod, "I am afraid there is business that we must see to that calls us away."

Lady Dalles pouted at her nephew's words, but didn't press the matter.

"Well then, I hope you have a safe journey back. I'll be sure to call on you soon. Maybe Sebastian can teach my new butler a thing or two when I do."

"I would be happy to, my lady." I replied with a bow.

With that, my master turned and stepped through the door Hannes had opened for us, Sarah and I following behind the young lord as he walked across the lawn and to the carriage. Once the three of us had loaded inside, I tapped on the ceiling to alert the driver. At my signal, the carriage lurched forward and began the short journey to the Undertaker's business.

"Given you've not had any direct dealings with him, I felt we should forewarn you about the Undertaker." my master began, looking over to Sarah who sat across from him by my side. "He can be a rather odd character."

Sarah gave a nod of acknowledgement, before saying, "Thank you for your concern, my lord, but I have encountered an odd character or two when working with my father. I doubt he will surprise me."

"Undertaker can be odd, even by the Underworld's standards." the young lord continued, "Most of what he says is gibberish, honestly, but he has been an invaluable source of information to the Phantomhive family for some time. So I hope you do forgive me making this decision despite this being your mission."

Sarah gave a polite smile, bowing her head slightly as she replied, "There is no need to apologize, my lord. I appreciate the direction."

Silence fell between the three of us as the carriage navigated the remainder of the ten minute journey. The Undertaker worked in a shop that was located between the wealthy neighborhood where Lady Dalles resided and abutting poor neighborhood. One time when I had inquired why he had chosen such a location, he had laughed, answering that everyone died no matter their class and that he had thought it rather good for business. I glanced out the carriage window, noting the decline in the grandeur of the buildings as we passed by. We were getting close.

True to my estimation, we arrived only a couple of minutes later. Sarah leaned forward, taking an inquisitive glance out of the carriage window as I turned forward to straighten my master's tie, her frown telling as she observed the curious way the Undertaker had chosen to decorate the outside of his funeral parlor. As I took hold of my master's tie, he smartly smacked my hands, trying to conceal his impish grin that tugged at his lips at my reproving scowl.

"That won't be necessary. I will remain in the carriage while you and Sarah tend to the matter at hand."

"Very well, my lord." I curtly replied, giving my waistcoat a swift tug as I sat straight once more. I would not let his insolence slide, but he would have to pay his penance later.

I led the way out of the carriage, assisting Sarah as she stepped down, my chest swelling somewhat with pride at how she walked closer to me, subconsciously seeking protection as we entered the building. The bell tinkled as we stepped inside, any outside light cut off as the door closed behind us. My gaze scanned the dimly lit room for any sign of the Undertaker, but I could not find any. It was not unusual, he typically seemed to be elsewhere when my lord and I would pop by. I suppose we will have to wait, I thought to myself as I led us further into the shop.

I glanced over to Sarah, who had been silent since we had arrived, to find she was glancing this way and that about the coffin lined room, tension in her shoulders noticeable at least to me. I was about to offer her a reassuring word when a soft series of laughs issued from just ahead.

"My, my, you've brought a new friend with you, butler," the Undertaker said, appearing from the shadows to walk up to his desk. He offered a toothy grin as he leaned forward onto his elbows, resting his chin on his hands as he continued, "Though I must say she's a more beautiful specimen than the Earl Phantomhive you usually trail about with. I hope nothing ill has befallen him. I would hate to have been robbed of the opportunity to fit him for one of my coffins."

I cast another glance towards Sarah, impressed when her face remained a perfect mask of neutral interest.

"My lord is not accompanying me because it is not he who requires your assistance." I answered as Sarah reached within the pocket of her uniform to pull out the letter from Lord Willoughby's locked box.

"That's correct," Sarah interjected, stepping up to the desk with me close behind and setting the letter down before sliding it towards Undertaker, "We came because we discovered that Baron Jacob Willoughby has been trafficking women. We are hoping to intercept the next exchange, which is noted in this letter, but we don't know where the information is being delivered to the transporters."

Undertaker paid no attention to the letter, guffawing at her words instead. Only then did her mask falter as her eyes widened in surprise at his reaction.

"Oh my, you need to teach this one some manners, butler. I'm afraid she does not know how I operate things."

Sarah looked over at me, raising a questioning brow as she shot me a pointed look before turning back to the Undertaker.

"My apologies for causing offense, sir. How should we proceed?"

I clasped my hands behind my back, my hands curling into fists as Undertaker seemed to perk up at her response. It took great restraint not to take a defensive step towards Sarah as he leaned closer towards her, another wide smile spreading across his scar marred face.

"Well, I am afraid before I am obliged to divulge any information I may have that we must discuss the matter of payment. It is only fair." he said, grin never leaving his face as he tilted his head, his chin still resting on his hand.

"I am afraid I don't have the funds to pay you. I could-...," Sarah began, but was cut off when Undertaker waved a dismissive hand.

"Don't you worry yourself, my dear. Your coin is no good here. No, the payment I require is of a less tangible manner." he paused, Sarah frowning at his words, "Give me the gift of laughter and all the information I have shall be yours."

Sarah's brows raised in surprise at this, clearly having expected a less than savory request.

"Laughter, sir?"

"Yes," Undertaker replied, grin disappearing as he looked down, fingering the letter with one of his long fingernails, "You see, in my line of work there is little place for any sort of happiness, so the joy of true laughter is worth more than its weight in gold."

She gave no response save to offer a hesitant nod, her brows pulling together in a slight frown as she observed the strange man before her.

"Though, just this once I might make an exception," he continued, his tone becoming serious as he returned his attention to Sarah, "You see, my dear, I've had a burning question in my mind since you and your butler friend entered my shop. A woman who is dressed as a common maid, but carries herself and speaks as a proper lady is curious enough. But for that same woman to be in the company of the Phantomhive butler, inquiring after the goings on of the Underground is curiouser still." he paused, a sinister smile tugging at his lips, some of his long, silvery hair sliding over his shoulders as he reached towards Sarah, using the tip of one of his long fingernails to tilt her chin up to look at him as he pressed on, "So who are you, my dear? Give me a name and all my information is at your disposal."

Before she could answer, though, I took hold of his wrist, my gaze warning as I pulled his hand away from her face. I had been generous by allowing him to leer at her as he had, but touching her was a step farther than I would permit.

"There is no need to touch the lady, Undertaker."

"Oh my," he said, coming to stand aright, his face lighting with curiosity as he looked between the two of us, "This is an interesting turn indeed. Did I touch a nerve? I've never seen you so possessive before, butler, not even for the earl. Could it be that this woman is your lover?"

Sarah blanched at his question, a brilliant flush coming to her face as she objected, "We are not lovers!"

Well, that certainly stings.

At this, Undertaker burst into a loud fit of laughter, clutching his stomach as he leaned his head back.

"You should warn people before you say things like that, my dear." he gasped some time later, wiping his eyes, his laughter giving way to a stray giggle or two as he continued, "It appears that you have graced me with my desired payment after all. That's the funniest thing I've heard all day."

Another fit of giggles silenced him, leaving Sarah and I to watch him in perturbed expectation while we waited for further answer.

A few moments later, he cleared his throat, tightening the tie of his threadbare robe as he continued, "Ah, do forgive me. You came here for information regarding the trafficked women. Unfortunately, I don't have any."

My jaw clenched at his nonchalance. Despite how useful he had proved to be for my master and I in the past, I often found myself wishing for a less eccentric and consistently more helpful source of information. To be forced to jump through so many hoops for no reward was exasperating.

"So you have no idea where the distributors are receiving their direction?" Sarah sighed, her tone firm as her lips pressed into a thin line.

Undertaker shrugged, before answering, "I'm afraid not, my dear. Though, if you give me your name, I would consider that as payment for looking into the matter."

"Fair enough," she said as she squared her shoulders, "I am Sarah Anne Wakefield, former Silencer to Her Majesty."

"Sarah Wakefield, Richard Wakefield's daughter?" he mused aloud, his head tilting as a subtle smirk appeared on his face, "What an interesting puzzle you are, my dear."

"So I take it that you have all the information you need?" I interjected as I took a turning step towards the door.

Undertaker nodded at my question, "Yes. You both have given me much to think on. But I will be sure to look into this and will write as soon as I have anything to report."

"Thank you for your assistance." Sarah said with a bow.

I gave a cursory nod towards the Undertaker before turning and leading the way to the entrance of the shop, Sarah trailing even closer behind me than when we had entered. She must have been just as keen to leave as I was. The bell sounded as I opened the door, holding it open to allow Sarah to exit before me. However, as she stepped over the threshold of the shop and into the brilliant afternoon light, she paused when Undertaker called her name.

"Yes?" she asked, turning around to face the darkness of the shop once more. I turned my attention back as well, finding the mortician hadn't moved from where we had left him moments before.

"If I may offer you some advice, my dear." he began, the previous smile he had on his face disappearing as his tone became grave, "Be careful who you give your trust to. After all, monsters wear the most disarming disguises."

/

Soooo, what did you think? We finally got an official dose of Sebarah! I'd love to hear your thoughts. What did you think about how the dynamic of their relationship has changed? Do you have any theories about the future? Any questions? Feel free to leave a comment to let me know.

Notes for this chapter:

1) Mrs. Wakefield-Sarah is addressed with this name by Anna and Sebastian while they are at Madame Red's because of her post as a Housekeeper. Housekeeper's were always referred to as "Mrs." without regard to their marital status.

2) Closing the fan means "I wish to speak to you".

3) Carrying an open fan in front of the face with the right hand means "Follow me".